Tank construction



July ll, 1933. L. 1 BROOKS TANK CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. l0, 1930 INVENTOR. ee L. /*oo/S A TTORNE Y.

Patented `luly 11, 1933 UNITED S'IAi'rlesv j LEE. AL. BROOKS; or MIDLAND, TEXAS A TANK CONSTRUCTION Applicationv ledpseptembcr y invention relates to storage tanks for storing crude petroleum,'and more-particularly to means for enclosing and protecting themetallic binding elements of a tank from contact with the acid content of thepetro- 20 the tank on the line 2 2, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 isa fragmentary sectional view of one of the supporting columns, particularly illustrating its mounting on the bottom lof the tank.

Fig. 4: is a fragmentary sectional view of the top ofthe tank showing a supporting column in abutment therewith.`

Fig. 5 is a transverse section through one of the assembled columns. v

Referring in detail to the drawing:

1 designates a tank of conventional construction except for my improvement, having circular side walls 2 formed by a plurality of vertical'staves 3 notched at their upper` and lower ends 4i and 5 for engagement with the peripheries 6 and 7 ofthe bottom floor 8V and the head or deck floor 9 respectively, the staves being urged to sealing relationwith one another and secured against the floor and 10 deck by adjustable tie rods 10 to form a fluidtight enclosure for containing pertroleum and the gases which may emanate therefrom.

Extending vertically through the tank in spaced relation with the side walls 2 are tie rods 11 having threaded ends 12 and 13 eX- tending through clamping plates 14 and 15 on opposite sides of the bottom 8 and deck 9,

the clamping plates being arranged transversely over the deck boards 16 and bottom floor boards 17, and clamped thereon by nuts 1o, 1.930. Serin No'. Alsacia 18 on the rods, thereby reinforcing the 'door members and providing a suitable, thickness for properly anchoringthe tie rods. l'

Whena tank of this, construction is employedy for storing'crude petroleum, thetie rods 11 are subjected tothe decomposingiaction of certain acid components of the oil which eventually weaken the rods and rendernV` the tank unserviceable until repairs or re-V placements are made. 60

In overcoming such injury Vto the rods, I provide the tank with support columns 19 preferably constructed of wood and of sufficient length to .abut snugly between the clamping platesll and 15 on the bottom 8 and deck 9 of the tank. The columns 19 are preferably square in-cross section, each having a through longitudinal slot 20 `in one side thereof and extending radially outward from the aXial center of the member. for receiving a tie rod 11, so that the column may be placed on a tie rod previously assembled inthe tank, andthe nuts 18 may then be ad-v justed on the rods for clamping the columns between the clamping platesli and 15, the columns serving to space and support the deck 9V in proper relation with'the bottom j' floor 8.`

' Withthe columns 19 clamped in posit-ion on a tie rod, a sealing strip 21 of suitable material is inserted in the slot 20 and properly sealed therein to prevent contact of the petroleum with the tie rods when the tank is in use. 1 f

From the foregoing it will be apparent that a tank equipped with `my improved support Vcolumns will notbe subject to the frequent repair otherwise necessitated by the above stated causes, and a considerable saving in cost of maintenance will be eifected;

WhatI claim and' desire to secure by Letters Patent is:`

1. A tank Vof the character described for containing corrosive fluid under pressures varying above and below atmospheric pres-- sure, including a side wall and atop and bottom `wall comprising a plurality of juxtaposed members having their ends supported by the side wall,clamping members extending across the inner faces of said members, 100

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complementary clamping members extending across the outer face of said members in superimposed relation with the first clamping members, tie rods extending through the top and bottom walls and through said clamping members, means on said rods arranged to retainthe clamping members in clampin relation with said top and bottom wall mem ers and to retain the top and bottom walls from bulging outwardly when pressure within the tank exceeds atmospheric pressure, and shielding members enclosing the rods from the corrosive actionof fluid contained in the tank and arranged for forming columns to support the top Vwall when the pressure within the tank drops below atmospheric pressure and to relieve the rods of compression forces.

2. A tank of the character described for containing a corrosive fluid under pressures varying above and below atmospheric pres- L sure, including a side wall and a top and l vbottom walls from bulging outwardly when the pressure within the tank exceeds atmospheric pressure, and a shielding member covering said rod and arranged to form a column for supporting ysaid top wall when the pressures in the tank drop to and below atmospheric pressure.A

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

' vLEE L. BROOKS. Y 

